Virginia Destroyers lose 38-10 at Omaha

The Omaha Nighthawks cashed in a dominating defensive performance Friday to pick up their second victory in the United Football League.

The Nighthawks spotted Virginia a field goal's lead, then shut down the Destroyers to pave the way for a 38-10 victory at TD Ameritrade Park.

The game, which drew 3,563 to the 24,000-seat stadium, brought an end to a tumultuous third week for the UFL. Players, coaches and staff on the financially troubled league's four teams have yet to be paid, although league officials have guaranteed payment and stood firm in their commitment to complete a fourth season.

The win left the Nighthawks 2-1 and in second place behind unbeaten Las Vegas, which will visit Omaha for a game next Wednesday. Virginia dropped to 2-1.

The Destroyers took a 3-0 lead with 1:04 to play in the first quarter on Kenny Spencer's 28-yard field goal. The Nighthawks then scored 31 unanswered points before Virginia got its only touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.

Omaha needed less than two minutes to erase its early deficit as quarterback Jason Boltus lead the Nighthawks on a seven-play, 67-yard drive that ended with his 7-yard touchdown run.

Boltus also scored Omaha's second touchdown, on a 5-yard run, after the Nighthawks recovered a fumble on the Virginia 40-yard line. Boltus needed seven plays to get his team to the end zone for the score that made it 14-3 with 6:44 left in the second quarter.

Virginia countered with a clock-eating drive that took the Destroyers from their 36 to a first down on the Omaha 16. Linebacker Steve Octavien dropped Virginia running back Dominic Rhodes for a 7-yard loss on first down and, after a pair of incompletions, Spencer came on to attempt a 41-yard field goal.

His line-drive attempt was wide left, and Boltus needed just two plays to get the Nighthawks in field-goal range. He completed a 32-yard pass to Cameron Kenney and a 10-yarder to Preston Brown. After a pair of incompletions, Brandon Coutu kicked a 46-yard field goal to make it 17-3 as time expired in the half.

Omaha quickly added to its lead to start the second half. Running back John Griffin opened the third quarter with runs of 26, 21 and 2 yards to set up a 26-yard scoring pas from Boltus to Brown.

Virginia appeared on the verge of closing its deficit when Chris Griesen drove the Destroyers to a first down at the Omaha 9-yard line. Adrian Peterson rushed for 7 yards on first down but was dropped for a 3-yard loss on second.

Griesen's third-down pass fell incomplete, setting up a 23-yard field-goal attempt by Spencer. Omaha's Aaron Weathers broke through and blocked the kick, then picked up the ball and returned it 86 yards to make it 31-3 with 7:33 left in the third quarter.

Virginia got its only touchdown when backup quarterback Mike McMahon drove the Destroyers 55 yards in the fourth quarter, capping the march with a 4-yard run.

Omaha added its final score when cornerback Antonio Fenelus stepped in front of a McMahon pass and returned it 35 yards with 3:31 left in the game.